Woman stable after stabbing as man ran through Sydney with knife

Police say he tried to stab multiple people but was unsuccessful although they found a body that may be linked to the incident

People look out from the interior of a hotel as police (not pictured) investigate the crime scene outside after a man stabbed a woman and attempted to stab others in central Sydney on August 13, 2019, before being pinned down by members of the public and detained by police. Police said the woman was in a stable condition and there were no immediate reports of other injuries, despite "a number of attempted stabbings by the same offender." / AFP / Saeed KHAN

Police gather at the crime scene after a man stabbed a woman and attempted to stab others in central Sydney. AFP

A women is taken by ambulance from Hotel CBD at the corner of King and York Street in Sydney, Australia. AP

Police speak with a witness (C) outside of an apartment building on Clarence Street during a police operation in Sydney, Australia. EPA

Police investigate the area around a crime scene after a man stabbed a woman and attempted to stab others in central Sydney. AFP

People walk past security officers standing around a barricaded area, following reports of a stabbing incident in the central business district of Sydney, Australia. REUTERS

An aerial view shows security officers standing around a barricaded area, following reports of a stabbing incident in the central business district of Sydney, Australia. REUTERS

Police gather at the crime scene after a man stabbed a woman and attempted to stab others in central Sydney. AFP

A woman is placed onto a gurney by paramedics in Sydney, Australia. EPA

A woman is carried by paramedics, as police officers investigate a scene following reports of a stabbing in Sydney, Australia. REUTERS

Police gather at the crime scene after a man stabbed a woman and attempted to stab others in central Sydney. AFP

A policeman stands by a roped off crime scene after a man stabbed a woman and attempted to stab others in central Sydney. AFP

Authorities work near a crime scene after a knife attack in Sydney, Australia. EPA

A young woman is in stable condition after being stabbed in a Sydney hotel on Tuesday as a man ran through the streets brandishing a knife before being tackled by passers-by.

Police confirmed that the man detained by witnesses on central Sydney’s King Street had been taken to Day Street Police Station and an investigation was ongoing.

“We are in the infancy stage of the stabbing investigation. There are a number of crime scenes. They are being thoroughly investigated by investigative and forensic staff as we speak and the investigation is ongoing,” police said at a press conference.

A local Uber driver named Leon told Sydney radio station 2GB that a man covered in blood brandishing a large knife had leapt on the bonnet of his car.

In footage shared online that appeared to show the incident, although they haven't been verified, show a man jumping on a car shouting "shoot me"., He then appears to fall from the roof of the car as the driver pulls off and is tackled and detained by bystanders who shout at him "Do you know how many people you just stabbed?"

Superintendent Gavin Wood of New South Wales police confirmed a single casualty but said the suspect had tried to attack a number of people.

“There are no other injuries at this stage I can confirm. The offender has attempted to stab multiple people. Those attempts thankfully were unsuccessful. Again I will put on record we have a female person with a stab wound to the back currently being treated by paramedics and is en route to a Sydney hospital,” he said. There was no indication that she knew her attacker, he said.

Police said the man was acting alone.

However, police later found the body of a woman in a building nearby. "Officers from Sydney City police area command are on the scene and will conduct inquiries into whether the incident is linked to an earlier stabbing at a hotel on the corner of Clarence and King St," police said.